‘Ikkis’ Screening

On December 29th, Mumbai witnessed a gathering that carried both reverence and sorrow. The screening of ‘Ikkis’, directed by Sriram Raghavan became more than just a cinematic event. It symbolized the closing chapter of Dharmendra’s illustrious journey on screen. The atmosphere grew heavy with sentiment as Sunny Deol stood before the poster of his father’s final film. His eyes reflected grief, yet he managed to acknowledge the photographers with a composed smile. In a tender moment, he pointed toward the poster and seemed to be softly saying, “‘Papa yahan hai,’” words that would have resonated with everyone present.

The evening saw Bobby Deol arrive with Tanya, their son Aryaman and cousin Abhay Deol adding to the family’s presence at the tribute. Salman Khan, who shared a profound connection with Dharmendra also stood before the poster visibly moved. His memories of the veteran surfaced during the ‘Bigg Boss 19’ finale where he expressed, “We lost the He-Man. We lost the most amazing man. I don’t think there is anyone better than Dharamji. The way he lived life was king-size. He gave us Sunny, Bobby and Esha. Since the day he joined the industry, he only wanted to work. He did so many roles. He came with an innocent face and He-Man’s body. That charm stayed with him till the end. Love you, Dharamji. Will always miss you.”

Dharmendra’s passing on November 24 at the age of 89 left the film fraternity mourning the departure of a figure whose presence defined generations of cinema.